European Council president visits Ukraine, calls for judicial reform

European Council President Charles Michel paid a visit
to Ukraine, including the contact line in Donbas, and called upon its President
Volodymyr Zelensky to conduct judicial reform, Interfax-Ukraine reported on
March 2. “Important progress has been made under your leadership,
President Zelensky,” Michel said in Schastia, Luhansk region, addressing his
Ukrainian counterpart. “Much still needs to be done, especially on the rule of
law, judicial reform and fight against corruption.”

Michel emphasized that Ukrainian citizens deserve a
judicial system that respects and enforces the rule of law, that is accountable
and independent from vested interests and that demonstrates there is no
immunity for corruption. “Ukraine has committed to the fight against corruption
and comprehensive judicial reform in the framework of the Association
Agreement. These are important conditions under the recently agreed
macro-financial assistance program and the visa liberalization process,”
the European Council President said.

Michel echoed a statement made by Zelensky this week
and repeated that the recent decisions by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine
only stressed the need to step up the judicial reform efforts.
“Comprehensive judicial reform is urgently needed to reboot the main
judicial government bodies and to establish a new transparent and merit-based
election procedure for judges at the High Council of Justice,” Michel said,
highlighting the main point which has also been on the agenda of Ukraine’s
talks with the IMF.

Yuri Svirko: While the
international pressure to make Ukraine reform its corrupt courts is growing,
Ukraine’s parliament is going to have today the second “first reading” of the
bill to amend the law “On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges” and some
other laws with the aim to resume the work of the High Qualifications
Commission of Judges. Both “High” bodies have been causing high pressure from
the West since they are the main obstacles for removing highly corrupt judges.
However, we do not expect another turbo mode in Ukraine’s parliament to please
the IMF and other international partners as soon as possible. Ukraine’s
evergreen judicial reform can last for ages, and it seems that no one is in a
hurry to mend the courts or amend the relevant laws.